Database Server Archive Server "Metadata" "Data" t¢ S PC Client ‘The 'Vault"is composed of the data (the files) and the metadata (the information about the files). Together these are viewed by the client in what is called the vault view, These can be duplicated to other servers (or virtual servers) and a new client connected to run the test environment through its paces. For details on this process see the Appendix of the Installation Guide (on the CD) "Moving Server Components’, Also I have found even easier is the knowledgebase solution $-017826: "How can you restore a copy of customer's PDMWorks® Enterprise file vault to a separate system from a database backup for testing purposes?”. Trust me, that solution isthe way to go. In fact you can install the new environment at the new version and upgrade the vault as part of the solution's process. The Installation Guide has details on setting up the server components in preparation of the move/copy. or those using Workgroup PDM the metadata and data are separate concepts but can be taken together as one. Simply copy the "Vaultdata”folder and install the server component on a new server, pointing towards the Vaultdata copy. This process is covered in knowledgebase solution S-031210: "What are the steps to move a PDM Workgroup Vault to anew server and retain all settings?”.Once the duplicate environments are created test away (and rigorously!) Run files throughout their workflows and upgrade files to the latest version of SolidWorks. Test your tasks and custom APIs and dacument everything. This will enable you to go into an upgrade with both eyes open. While not common it has happened where customers of mine have discovered potential pitfalls ahead of time and have them resolved before moving forward. Tt will also give you the ability to gauge just how involved an upgrade process ‘will be and where you can overlap tasks to minimize the time impact. Through these methods you can stay ahead of the curve with latest features and reduced upgrade effort and manpower. Posted by Peer Larson at 01:28 PM in Installation & Service Packs, PDM, SolidWorks Tips and Trieks | Permalink | Comments (0) | ‘TrackBack (o) September 05, 2013 SolidWorks Simulation: Incremental Meshing in Large Assemblies Recently, one of our customers reminded me a new feature in SolidWorks Simulation 2013 that many people may not know about. The incremental meshing feature allows bodies ofa large assembly to be meshed individually rather than having to remesh the entire thing, This ean come in really handy ifyou have a large assembly or individual components that fail to mesh. Say you have a large assembly and you do a first run mesh to get the idea of the mesh size needed. What ifthe general siz is good but you want one ‘component to have a finer mesh? Well with the ineremental mesh feature you simply right elick on the body you want in the simulation tree and go to "Remes! sisizle {@ cadan cine vine vx aa an q| Select the areas, you, 1B [J/cotseuie7evce nie || Would’ like to.refine and and click "Create Mesh" se per part ise Crest ve Mesh Density A & 0 Coase Fhe Hesh Parameters A Ay 2e5se0s01n After clicking, Create Mesh, SolidWorks will remesh just the body selected with the new element size. This tool can be utilized as well ina case where a body has friled to mesh. Often times the cause of mesh problems is intricate geometry that needs a finer element size. Using incremental meshing, the failed body can be refined quickly and easily. Posted by Chris Olson at 01:30 PM in FEA & Design Analysis, SolidWorks Tips and Tricks | Permalink | Comments (0) | Trackiack (0September 03, 2013 SolidWorks Geometry Pattern: A Simple Option To Make Patterns Regenerate Faster Atour last Essentials training class that was taught in our Green Bay officeNote 1, I stepped in to teach the lesson on Patterns, and T recalled something from that lesson that I thought would be worth sharing with all of you. We all know that patterns are an easy way to re-use geometry and features without having to recreate features. The time savings in creating them alone often justifies their use, but they have added benefits in being quicker to regenerate and easier to digest on a feature tree. Theyre so nice, that the 2014 release of SolidWorksNote 2 is going to have a few new additions to the arsenal of patterns available for you to use (hint: ifyou wish there could be more component patterns for assemblies, you're in luck) ‘But what I had forgotten about, and what you should know, is that all feature patterns have a secret pts A setting that can make them even more beneficial to use in your part files: the Geometry Pattern setting Wary stetch Its use is pretty straightforward. With the option checked, all of your patterned features will have their Elcooneny paar ‘exact geometry copied (as opposed to, say, their end conditions). The primary benefit of doing this is itroneoae viel that you can save on regeneration time when you utilize it. I wanted to demonstrate this with a simple e. ‘example: the eribbage board that students build as an exercise later in the lesson, eee (@ parcal proven built the eribbage board using two methods: 1, Using the exercise's instructions (using one two-direction linear pattern with a lot of skipped instances and then a mirror) 2, Using a slightly different method with an additional mirror, and an additional single-direction linear pattern where I avoid having to select any skipped instances, Download my Cribbage Hoard fle here. With the Geometry Pattern option cleared for all ofmy linear patterns and mirror commands, the Feature Statistics tool said that it took 0.50 and 0.81 seconds to rebuild each method, respectively. When I turned on the Geometry Pattern option, those rebuild times plummeted to 0.23 and 0.26 seconds, respectively. tones (SAS MERE [oe ae oe ee Ce ae Ss Gone tet se is Guscems te om ovo. ta First Method: Geometry Pattern First Method: Geometry Pattern option cleared option checked Certainly, this is a simple example, and the results are a bit skewed by the fact that I really only have two other features in the model. All the same, you can see how easy itis for this setting to give you back seconds ofyour life on every rebuild. This would be especially true for those of you who have to pattern features more complicated than a Hole Wizard hole, ike some ribs or formed sheet metal feature. And ifyou think that’s something, you should start thinking about using the Feature Freeze bar,Note 1 Okay, yes you caught me. Shameless self promotion time: http://gxse.com/training/about/overview html Note 2 Ob, I didn't have enough shamless self-promotion in this post? Fine. While we'e at it, check out our SolidWorks 201 Premiere to see the improvements made to assembly component patterns and a whole lot more. Posted by David Mandl at 08:55 AM in aD Modeling, SolidWorks Tips and Tricks | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (o August 20, 2013 SolidWorks: New On-Screen Input Option - and Bonus Search Tip Wait! Stop the presses! Version 2014 of SolidWorks will be released soon, and I haven't finished sharing some of my favorite 2013 ‘enhancements, ‘There has long been an option in SolidWorks entitled" i sable On-Sereen Numerie Input on Entity Creat jensions were automatically inserted in the sketch environment as you drew (see Fig. 1) When activated, —| im ~— Fig You could enter a value immediately upon sketching an object - or not — but either way, all the dimensions remained on screen, ‘whether you had sized them upon creation or accepted the initial object ‘known and to-be determined dimensions being placed on the sketch. ‘This was an all-or-nothing proposition resulting in both In SolidWorks 2013 a new ancillary option was added, “Create Dimension Only When Value Is Entered” (see Fig. 2) [D1 Ato rotate view roma eset plane encletch eaten gi [Use fuly defined sketches [Z| Disdey arc centerpoints i pertlessenbly sketches ” mn ean er ree [Dicreate sketch on new part Display/Mgection [loveride dimensions on craginove Performer [Hdiepay plane when shaded o Assemblies [Wl Line length measured betvieen virtual sharpe in 3¢ teal (enable spine tngency andesrvatureherdes ‘ Default Ternalates (F) Show spline contral polycon by default 7 fie cee ao on f tanto mn Routing Fae Fig2With both these options enabled, dimensions will remain on-sereen only when a value has been entered. You are no longer left with dimensions that may not be immediately needed or wanted in the sketch environment. Many users thought this was the best ofboth, words..as did I! BonusTip: “I know it’s in here somewhere." How many times have you said that to yourself while looking for a SolidWorks option you wish to ‘change? Did you know you can now search the Options dialogs with the same ease as searching for commands or files? Simply start typing a key word or two and SolidWorks will take it from there! (See Fig. 3.) [Etec vero sete onset ceten (Pee ty er sees (zy we etprts pene ont pon pty te (mt ocr seth (Clereate cketch on new part [lowers drentreondaghove (owas ce (@lnclegtrenred eee ad oped Wikrable sine tangency and curvaturehandes, Eon sare er tgnby eas (Wichost image on drag [idewarwinecbbandg ove Feeney Sh ‘ene mrs tena re nr cig ie Tirenet otc Eisettnenby eat Fig ‘To learn more SolidWorks Tips and Tricks, learn more about our events and training opportunitites! Posted by Sam Hochberg at 11:23 AM in gD Modeling, SolidWorks Tips and Tricks | Permalink | Comments (o) | TrackBack (0) July 25,2013 SolidWorks Tips and Tricks: Quickly Move Tool Buttons Quick tip for the month: you can easily move tool buttons by holding down the key and dragging! Simply hold down on the keyboard, then drag buttons from one location to another. This ean be within a toolbar or Command Manager tab or from one toolbar or tab to another. It's quick way to organize things the way you want them. See the video below for a short illustration of how this works.Posted by John Setzer at 10:59 AM in SolidWorks Tips and Tricks, Video Tutorial | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) July 23, 2013, ‘Why Do My Files Open in Separate Sessions in SolidWorks 2013? SolidWorks 2013 introduces a new application ealled the SolidWorks Launcher that helps opening files from different SWversions in appropriate SolidWorks version (when multiple SW versions are installed), By default oma system with SolidWorks 2013 installed, SolidWorks file types should be associated to the Launcher (swshellfilelauncher.exe) and when opening files using double-click or right-click Open they should open in same SolidWorks session (SLDWORKS.EX®), Bsouwows | O-8--B-9 GS snesteoss ase eee & mogret Oetuk cdo PH (BI Sensors Nate net speceg> cervied snctes B lotectesipae | paul Foe, fevee We Facies @mBmvw i petop 1 Downiads 12 Reco Pees Fle Options view Help | © magnet membrane 1 scone speaker 1 perk 1 spakesfome [neta] Prom sens [Pati [nai f i a i FEEEEEEGEEE § egeessiesseses Slee Pak Doman Selistcrs Pan Docament Seliters Pet Docament However ifthe file types are associated directly to the SolidWorks 2013 (sldworks.exe) application instead, the files may open in ‘separate background Solid Works sessions instead of the existing open session when you double-click the files.GO -(E= cen roan [5] [earning ——p te» Bante re Dae @ mbstae sonate zi appenen sai Boney Svads2n3Agpcsce 30 Uh omens Shean Sea ptenen 9879 Bnet ona saz ‘Alpunalfie could ot be cet, Auto eso rt wo othe A setanerSetcttods oy seas rnnng ont mechs + Note that another symptom of wrong association is that the SolidWorks file icons show a generic SolidWorks icon rather than the individual part, assembly or drawing icon. To correct the file associations, do as follow: 1, Close all sléworks.exe sessions via task manager. 2. Start SolidWorks 2013 as an administrator (browse to the SolidWorks install folder, right-click sldworks.exe, select “Run as [Bl «Loca Dik(C) + Progam Fiks > SoldWoiks Crp > SoldWors > =| ]| Search SalsWors iee~ [Bre Newtolde ol cof Name Datemocttied Type se waa sp2vaurg El sldphotoshopcon 41/18/2013 1009 PM Application 79K8 fa WstProcslon 172920131099 ppcation 1310 Perian siilserver 1138720131028 PM Appcation eax =e Lias720133009 9M _ pplication oxns waa 220010 Open sss Blancs Caco ay S071 mee Bousnesrietsunerer LES E rlcaion 3018 administrator). acne lowepmnge | en eemPn pation 1318 43. Select Tools, Options, “Restore File Associations”SESH ASISE I ae] Esser General ‘Show in Fie Explorer vew rvs Dv Denes Dips iy wor res atv in ebeace oe DiRecant Documents, aah ‘Hidden referenced documents Peaon/Soos sense Uipo/eleon Deromance cao sca fecal Reference Ordos engl Flelecatene FeatuteMtanager Spin BoxIrciemesns View acy Recover Touch Hole Wierd/Toolbox File plorer ‘Search Colaboration Messoges/Eors/Wawrings 4, Close SolidWorks, 5. Browse to a SolidWorks part (sldpri ile ina local Windows folder, right-click, select “Open With", Select “Choose default o All defoult le essocatons heve been restore Coe {0 Seti arab eine Ear] See ta A Bopen + Newfolde >a @ E ae ~ Date modtiee Type Sze Pe “Slavlorks 2013 Application ods (S miesippon.ico | Open slaWorts 2013 Aptcaton Hacer ie busting [Ei VewFile IL suavorts 202 Aosiction castor 901 ‘Open with > 8D SolidWorks 2013 (e@ top_plete.108 Rae pe eceresens 8B. SoliaWvorks Leuncher i Bi wneentes Sendto >| [Fiehooce default program, cat program”. Cory 6, Select to use the “SolidWorks Launcher” (or use the Browse button, browse to the SolidWorks 2013 install folder and select “swfilelauncher.exe” if needed). Mark “alway's use the selected program for this kind of fle”. Press OK.[choose the program you went to se to open this le Bye Recommended Programs: IB svoieane SPD sseroistanser the: Programe ————t ¥ ee = J {the program you nants noth the Ist or on your computer, you can look fur t= aprons ovoare on tie web, (9c) (cares) 7. Repeat this procedure with a sidasm and sIddrw fle, 8. The files should open in same SW session from now on. Posted by Vie Frauenfeld at 02:53 PM in Hardware and Systems, SolidWorks Tips and Tricks | Permalink | Comments (o) | TrackBack fo) July 16, 2013 SolidWorks Sketching Tips IV - Keeping Trim “How do you do it, Sol? Keep up with all these new features over the years, that is?” “Same way as you do, Sal..update trai ing classes, user group meetings...” “Yes, they're all great, but sometimes I feel like they jump into the deep, advanced topics and skip over so many basics.” “know what you mean, Sal. It's easy to forget we spend a lot of time doing simple sketehing. Hey, I bet I have a couple neat little Trim Entities tricks you didn’t know! You know when you're using that command, in Power Trim mode, and you see that red dot over the last object you selected?”B sousmwones [frie eat view ert Toda Toso Entene POM Wiedon Heb | Ey 2 \°O-nN- Oo BA wiror entities O- Alege _ @-0 D-#)- Fig. “Asin Figure 1?” Sal asked. “Yes, Sal, asin Figure 2.” Sol shook his head. “Have you ever, while continuing to hold down the mouse, swiped back across that red dow" “Oh, my, Sol! It untrims it, without interrupting the command at all! This calls for a 2nd Figure!” Produc ir ieisle, PB re omncemn,. MA tua SN“Yes it does, Sal. But wait, there’s more. Now try holding down the Shift key a vou drag the mouse across the objects.” “Awesome! It’s actually acting like the Extend Entities command, without even selecting the other command! Time for a Figure 3, don'tyou think?” BS soumwones | re ete ven tert Toss Tooboe eres rom inti Heb | + G8 > Med De By en es — ket Sited [in| cocmee |I- - O- Aleit | "Ratees" fxs | Sore i LOOM a) 2x, FeaORST] sketch [ eas Dinter [oes HoaeS Sis iRisiel___| i ' { ¢ PSS / — Fig. 3 “Those are a couple of great little tips, Sol. Where do you learn so many things like this?” *SolidNotes, my friend,” Sol said, “Graphics Systems’ SolidNotes." Posted by Sam Hochberg at 04:58 PM in SolidWorks Tips and Tricks | Permalink | Comments (o} | TrackHack (0) July 10, 2013 ‘The Easiest Animation Tool You'll Ever Use - SolidWorks Composer Animation simply does not get any easier than this, Really! I know you've heard those words before, and perhaps tried your hand at a program or two. But before long you found yourself buried in the often arduous (albeit typical) process of manually creating intricate, complex timelines. And key points. And key frames. And transitional effects. Movement. Camera angles. Lighting changes. Material properties, Need I go on? SolidWorks Composer's technical communications outputs include a method for creating animations from a series of static views. perhaps the ones you've already created for your static documentation, or those created for this very purpose, be they highly realistic renderings or simple flat line art with annotations included, Here's the simple process, Start by setting up your view and model appearance and orientation as desired, and use the Create View function Fig. 1)hone | Render Author Shes Transform Geonelry Workshops Wine a cotaboraton ao & Oe 4 oa, tnimstion Teel High Rolston | Yeo inet | Aion’ ‘Sect O pase sstation TD somtabte | OR che. SA copia show'ae visby aaa views Bx) spvisma Wisk Watch.sma Assembly Callgporation | Views | BOM Marketinglmege2 —-MarketingImege Properties Bucs |\@ ackgourd eer Footer Bock ala «Wl tnae Motion blur ‘Ditnable Ue cards tom Yon wt Comera Ettects >| ‘ableton eet Famet pect wa bee) Ev Uecker Figs Make sure you are in Animation mode as shown in Fig. 2Home "Render author Stes Transform Geomety Workshops Window S & @2"@ ¢ 4 oF Callout: Animation) Techies! High Resolution Visity Digger | Align Select O rase tastation nage 29 Eleowre || conta a Asenby Calabenton [ies | BOM Baa Sbaad a —L——— Pherae E | [Enable | aa ey Timeline Femat Aspect (idVheisi) 1 Event Leck retaon Fig. 2 and drag a view into the Timeline at the bottom of the sereen (Fig. 2)Views 30Vame Wiel Watchsma assembly Collaparation | views | 60m Bao Jidddd Rough CAD data “Maiketing meget Re Matting mage? Yq Marketing image 2 Properties comin clr Fete i Beck lng «ler Woon ur ‘Dena Use coorenstansen Wald z Camere Camere Publication post Feat ‘Papect (vith beg Evert Lec maton Fig. Continue to drag views to their desired locations on the Timeline. All the requisite keys will be created for you automatically (Fig. 4)Views BvMeng Assembly Colloration | Views | BOM Baacg ait Marketinglmage2 Marketing mage3 Welt Properties Ales ax ance ~ Nae cto. xa, + CAL eam hoehiberg oD Enable Protectin mode Pens Bending (roaate) Enable Moscc (epee!) Fig. 4 ‘Your animation may now be played within the document using the controls on the Timeline toolbar, or ifdesired, output in AVI format as shown in Fig. 5.‘woresnoas B °. # = & BOM Technial High Resolution Simplification Clearance Interactive Path etalon "tase Checking Collision Detection Planning Publihing Geometiy apvan.emg Wis Wales Video Frafie Default Profle Wide Seve Veo As. AvIOupat | Anicliasina | i change window resliton —————" [Bo] wet heiohe [oo Rew on (© selection @sents Fon [>] w [] Fig.5 Couldn't get much easier than that, right? The benefit that our customers tell us they've derived from this is that they are now using, animations for in-house documentation, training, and marketing when they'd bought the produet just planning to use it for printed field instructions, catalogs, or similar use. ‘More value than expected, Easier to use than expected. It's a recurring theme, What has been your experience with SolidWorks Composer? Posted by Sam Hochberg at 11:04 AM in aD Modeling, Drawings, SolidWorks Composer, SolidWorks Tips and Tricks | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack(o} June 11, 2013, SolidWorks and Dell Workstations Ifyou're reading this blog, you're likely a user of Dassault Systemes’ SolidWorks or Catia gD CAD Modeling softwares. It's also entirely likely that you're running it on a Dell Precision workstation. You've also probably wondered ifyou're getting the optimal performance from your computer for your application. Someday, you've vowed, you're going to wade through the myriad of knowledge base articles, blogs, and forums, and do some experimentation,Someday, Well, do we at Graphies Systems have good news for yout Last month, Dell announced the release ofits Dell Precision Performance Optimizer. To quote from their blog: “DPPO is built around three pillars: Automatie Performance Optimization, System Maintenance, and Tracking & Reporting....Onee DPPO knows you are using SolidWorks, for example, it will change the system to the optimal configuration without you having to make these changes yourself. You select the profile for the application you are using, and DPPO takes it from there.” Here isa video describing the utility And here is the DPPOdownload link. Wellove to hear from our customers. Ifyou've benefitted from this or any of our other tips, please let us know in the Comments section. Posted by Sam Hochberg at 08:00 AM in aD Modeling, Hardware and Svstems, Settings & Customization, SolidWorks Tips and Tricks | Permalink | Comments (0) | Trackack (0) June 05, 2013 How to Make a Sheet Metal Edge Flange Perpendicular to a Face (Instead of Trying to Find the Angle) ‘When creating an edge flange, sometimes you might want the new flange to be perpendicular or parallel toa specific face or plane. This is very beneficial ifyou have created lofted bends as your sheet metal part, When you create your new edge flange feature, there is an option to select a face to make the newly ereated flange perpendicular or parallel to.oF met ES ‘This must be a face, you cannot select a plane at this time, However, you can extrude a surface that resides on a plane (as another feature before creating your new flange) and use that asa selectable face. That is the blue face that is in the picture above. Once the face is selected, you can tell SolidWorks to make the new flange perpendicular or parallel to that face. ‘This is much easier than trying to figure out what angle will make the new flange parallel with one of your primary planes. Posted by Vie Fravenfeld at 11:38 AM in 4D Modeling, SolidWorks Tips and Tricks | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)